The Underground Railroad eBook

One of the methods, which used to succeed very well,
in skillful and brave hands, was this: In order
to avoid suspicion, the woman intending to be secreted,
approached the boat with a clean ironed shirt on her
arm, bare headed and in her usual working dress, looking
good-natured of course, and as if she were simply
conveying the shirt to one of the men on the boat.
The attention of the officer on the watch would not
for a moment be attracted by a custom so common as
this. Thus safely on the boat, the man whose
business it was to put this piece of property in the
most safe Underground Rail Road place, if he saw that
every thing looked favorable, would quickly arrange
matters without being missed from his duties.
In numerous instances, officers were outwitted in this
way.

As to what Susan had seen in the way of hardships,
whether in relation to herself or others, her story
was most interesting; but it may here be passed in
order to make room for others. She left one sister,
named Mary Ann Tharagood, who was wanting to come
away very much. Susan was a woman of dark color,
round built, medium height, and about forty years of
age when she escaped in 1854.

* * * *
*

WILLIAM HENRY ATKINS.

William Henry was also a fellow-passenger on the same
boat with William B. White and Susan Cooke. These
might be set down, as first-class Underground Rail
Road travelers.

Henry was a very likely-looking article. He was
quite smart, about six feet high, a dark mulatto,
and was owned by a Baptist minister.

For some cause not stated on the books, not long before
leaving, Henry had received a notice from his owner,
(the Baptist Minister) that he might hunt himself
a new master as soon as possible. This was a business
that Henry had no relish for. The owner he already
had, he concluded bad enough in all conscience, and
it did not occur to him that hunting another would
mend the matter much. So in thinking over the
situation, he was “taken sick.” He
felt the need of a little time to reflect upon matters
of very weighty moment involving his freedom.
So when he was called upon one day to go to his regular
toil, the answer was, “I am sick, I am not able
to budge hardly.” The excuse took and Henry
attended faithfully to his “sick business,”
for the time being, while on the other hand, the Baptist
Minister waited patiently all the while for William
to get well enough for hunting a new master. What
had to be done, needed to be done quickly, before
his master’s patience was exhausted. William
soon had matters arranged for traveling North.
He had a wife, Eliza, for whom he felt the greatest
affection; but as he viewed matters at that time,
he concluded that he could really do more for her
in Canada than he could in Norfolk. He saw no
chance, either under the Baptist minister, or under
a new master. His wife was owned by Susan Langely.
When the hour arrived to start, as brave men usually
do, Henry, having counted all the cost, was in his
place on the boat with his face towards Canada.